Defense ministers from 11 NATO countries, including Portugal, signed the declaration on Tuesday forming a coalition to train Ukrainian pilots and technicians of F-16 fighters.
This political declaration was signed by Portugal, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom, who “share the conviction that continued support to Ukraine is of the utmost importance” despite aggression from Russia .
“The parties agree that, in order to assist Ukraine in the defense of its airspace, they will form a joint training coalition of the Ukrainian Air Force for the operation and maintenance of F-16 fighters, in accordance with the necessary authorizations and the possibility to include other types of combat aircraft at a later stage”reads in the statement to which Lusa had access.
All training will take place outside the territory of Ukraine, says the statement signed at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, in which National Defense Minister Helena Carreiras took part.
The parties agreed to train Ukrainian pilots, technicians and support personnel, which will provide that country’s air force with the basic capabilities to operate and maintain F-16 aircraft, including providing “relevant equipment, instructors and other personnel for such training”.
“The coalition will focus on training but will also be prepared to consider other forms of support in due course to ensure Ukraine has a fully functional F-16 capability,” the statement added.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov arrived this Tuesday afternoon at LITEXPO, where the summit is taking place, and when asked about Ukraine’s intentions, he was succinct: “The goal is accession”.
Without answering further questions, the minister said only that Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, would raise the country’s displeasure with representatives of the 31 countries that make up NATO.
Zelensky said this Tuesday on his way to the NATO summit in Vilnius that it is absurd that the Atlantic Alliance does not give an invitation date for Ukraine to join.
The joint effort to train F-16 pilots is coordinated by the Netherlands and Denmark.
Two weeks ago, Zelensky criticized the delay in pilot training, at a time when the Ukrainian counter-offensive had already begun and it was having difficulties advancing on the ground because of the defensive lines Russian troops had set up.
Source: DN
